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Patana
NEWS
Friday 28th May 2021
Volume 23 Issue 32
www.patana.ac.th
KEEP CALM AND RELAX By Primary Assistant Principal Mark Verde
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Also in this issue...
Year 6 Transition/School Photos/Key Stage 3 Poetry Prize Winners 28/05/2021
Bangkok Patana School News
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
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Keep Calm and Relax
Mark Verde, Primary Assistant Principal, Learning and Curriculum
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uring a lockdown situation it is very easy to become demotivated and anxious about life so it is important for everyone, children and adults alike to think about how we can KEEP CALM and RELAX.
vourites then are reading graphic novels, building Lego, making art ,(I love to paint) baking and then making Tik Tok tutorials for my food blog. I recently took the Dance Academy 8 Day Meditation Challenge - it was super relaxing and one day I even fell asleep! One of the best I recently read about a concept called Hygge that orig- ways to relax and keep calm is to spend time with my inates from Denmark and is all about being with people dog Marmite, a cheeky Chocolate Lab who gives great we love and creating a feeling of home and cosiness, cuddles. We snuggle up and watch musicals together whilst taking time to relax and enjoy life. So how do you - our favourites right now are Hamilton and Dear Evan hygge? Here are a few ideas: Hansen.” - Ana, Year 6 • Home – make your safe place, warm, inviting and “In these current times when I feel a little anxious, I try relaxed with candles, cushions and warm textures. and put myself into a good frame of mind by doing some• Flavours – enjoy a cup of your favourite comforting thing calming and relaxing like gardening, home cooking or drawing. The current lockdown has given me the drink; tea, coffee, hot chocolate or other… unexpected opportunity to do some more meditation… • Company – share meals, play cards and have every time I breathe in I can release the tension and when quality time together. I breathe out I am completely relaxed! I have a routine • Hobbies – invest in something you love to do – where I meditate for 40-50 mins each day, before I sleep and after I wake up and this helps me feel re-energised at drawing, reading or exercising outdoors. work and helps me have a good night’s sleep.” - Khun Bo, • Mindset – be grateful for what you have – list three- Year 5 Teaching Assistant things you are grateful for at the start and end of “I relax and keep calm by doing a daily morning worka day and see how it makes you feel. Savour the out or yoga at home. I also like to watch Stand-up Comemoment and enjoy your own silence. dy and read novels to unwind. At the very end of the day, We all have many ways that we like to relax. My re- I meditate for 10-20 minutes which enables me to have laxation techniques are running, (or shuffling) ideally on great, deep sleep. When it is allowed, chatting and catcha beach or more often through the streets of Bangkok. At ing up with friends at the cafe or restaurant is a pleasant home, having time to sit with a hot cup of tea, whilst lis- way to start the weekend.” - Khun Pu, Year 3 TA tening to music and watching the world go by helps me “The ways I like to relax are by lying on the sofa at the unwind and reading a good book is a lovely way to end end of a school day, doing nothing or watching wildlife the day or start the weekend. programmes on TV. My favourite is David Attenborough.I Here are some more top tips from colleagues and stu- also enjoy sitting on my balcony eating, mediating or dents at Bangkok Patana on listening to a podcast whilst watching squirrels scamper how we can all relax and stay through the trees. calm when feeling a little unMy top tip for relaxing is to go somewhere quiet and settled during times of change. let my mind wander. This may lead to a wonderful new “Sometimes when I am feel- idea, a solution to a problem that you have been thinking ing stressed out or just feeling over, and a calm, refreshed mind.” - Mr Taylder, Senior "blah" I like to work-out! My Teacher – Leading Student Progress favourites are swimming, box“During this period of uncertainty, I’m not doing anything ing, Just Dance or Ring Fit on differently but have continued to try to achieve a balance the Nintendo Switch. Other times I feel like I need a quiet of work, time with my family and time for myself, which activity to chill-out a bit. My fa- includes exercise. Maybe keeping things consistent is a way of managing the uncertainty. I don’t have a set day 2
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or time that I exercise which means that I don’t feel guilty when I don’t have the time or energy to do it! Instead, I’ll set myself a goal of exercising, say four times a week and schedule it in when I can. I accept that there will be some weeks in which I haven’t achieved a balance and that one or more of the activities I value will have to be pushed down my list. In that case I try to readjust things the next day or week. My go to enjoyable activities: Reading the paper (online), being on or near the river and speaking to friends and family.” - Ms Crompton, Leader Student Support Services “For relaxation and stress relief I love to play sport with my friends and family but as this is not always possible, I also love to spend time in our garden. Whether it is watering, pruning, planting or just relaxing I find that my mind can refocus and rebalance when surrounded and immersed in nature. Why not grow a seed while we are at home and enjoy the awe and wonder of seeing it grow!” - Mr Tatam, Leader of Learning for PE “My favourite things I like to do to relax myself are: Reading, baking and playing with children. When I read I feel relaxed and calm as my book takes me to another world, another planet, a space where I can unwind. I read in a comfortable space because that helps me focus on the book and not on my surroundings. When I read a book in my head, I try to imagine what the scene or scenario would look like by painting pictures in my mind. As soon as I start thinking about baking anything, my mouth starts to water and I get really, really excited. Baking is one of the things that helps me relax. I love it because my grandma is always baking and cooking in the kitchen. However, she lives all the way in England, so I bake and I cook to remind me of her. Baking is a sort of science because you measure different things and you add loads of stuff and it comes out looking like a cake or cookies.
“My exercise routines help me relax and preferring two wheels instead of four, I have taken to racing via Zwift, (an indoor cycling platform); it is a great opportunity to race in a virtual cycling world, get fit and let off steam. Walking around the moobahn allows me to catch up on lost steps, listen to a podcast or chat with my neighbours. I am not a huge fan of jigsaws, but I do try and join in with the family build, but often I can be seen dancing around the kitchen table! Connections with people and staying in contact with friends, family and colleagues is super important and great for everyone’s mental health and we must make the effort to look out for one another and stay connected.” Ms Barton, Year 4 Teacher “I’ve been enjoying a refreshing post-work routine; I walk outside, find a soothing green space, take off my shoes and stand barefoot on the grass. For a short time, I feel Mother Nature. This practice is known as grounding or earthing. I find it therapeutic after a long stressful day or when my head is full of uncertainty, fears and worries. During this ‘me’ time, I enjoy the sounds of nature -the breeze, the singing birds and the sound of silence from within. I look at the green leaves and occasional flowers around me while I enjoy sipping a hot “mate”, a deep-rooted Argentine custom that transports me to my roots and makes me feel closer to my family and friends back home. As I write this reflection I realise this is not new for me -I have rediscovered what my mother taught me in the green spaces around our garden.” - Ms Mariela, Leader of Learning, World Languages “I have two activities that help me stay calm and relaxed. The first is to run every other day with a challenge distance run at the end of the week. I see if I can beat my furthest distance covered in one run! I also create Spotify playlists of my top 20 tracks per decade. I have music on all day in the background whilst working and should anything grab my attention I simply find the release date of that track and add it to the relevant playlist. My favourite so far has been the 80s!” - Tim Tripp, Head Swim Coach
I love playing with younger children because I can watch them learn stuff every day and think that they are just like me when I was younger. I also love taking care of So, what three things are you most grateful for today? them because they make me laugh whenever I feel down Take a moment to consider them and enjoy how good and, in a way, they look after me as well!” Lucy, Year 5 they make you feel. Have a lovely, relaxing and calm student weekend.
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The (slightly adapted) Patana Poetry Prize, 2021 Katie Sloane, Head of English Faculty ue to moving to online learning, rather than cancel the Patana Poetry Prize this year, we decided to adapt it and make it a Key Stage 3 only competition with the winning poems being showcased here, in the Patana News. We had received a flurry of entries, all KS3, prior to the Songkran break, as well as numerous entries in the first weeks of CSL, so wanted to celebrate the wonderful efforts, thoughts and imaginations of these students.
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This year’s theme was ‘Connection’. At the time of opening the competition, we had recently completed our second round of CSL back in January of 2021 and were once again in school. Knowing a large number of our community are separated from family and friends abroad, and having newly come together again with those we interact with on a daily basis, we thought it a fitting theme for students to explore in their writing: the importance of familial and friendship connections; the importance of un-
derstanding each other; of connecting with the pressing issues of the world around us – or even beyond! – the competition was launched in the same week that Nasa touched down on Mars; or even on an even more micro level of the connections made between the synapses in our brains as we learn and love. Now we are in the midst of our third round of CSL, these connections have become even more pertinent and poignant to us all. Here you can see the entries from the winning three KS3 students as well as poems by three of our upper school students who have also shared their beautiful and moving thoughts on this theme: Connection. Many congratulations to the winning entrants and a massive well done and thank you to all who have submitted poems. Keep on writing!
Mathilda McKenzie, 8M: Mathilda submitted two poems to the competition and her entries came joint first. DISCONNECTED
WELCOME TO THE WORLD
She tip-toed around the world, Lived in the in-between, And hid in all the places, She could see but not be seen. She lived in a world of solitude, Where she didn’t smile nor frown, She lived away from people, So she couldn’t let them down. But if you look inside the sidewalk cracks, And listen to every open door, You might see a different girl, You haven't seen before, You may see she wants a world of bright, But something she’ll never admit, Is that she wants to be part of a world, With not just her in it.
Welcome to the world, This shimmering, shining place, Here you can be whoever, (as long as it fits your designated place), Here we want you to be loved, (But not by them or her or him,) Here we need you to rely on us, (But not when all is grim,) Here you can be you, without any fuss, Here you can say what you want, (As long as you agree with us.) Welcome to the world, we hope you decide to stay, (As long as you think like us and are perfect in every way.)
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Did I love you too much? Is that why I’m numb?
Let the rain pour, Let the sky fall, Let the pain roar, Let the darkness call, The Birds who sung now lay dead, The sound of screams don’t leave my head,
Tried erasing myself away, Tried pricking myself with thorns, But the rose reminded me of you, So every petal was torn,
I was thrown onto this frozen lake, If only I knew your love was fake, It’s written upon this bloody wall, On every door down this wretched hall,
I’m a monster who wore a mask, Just to lay down in a garden by your side, But the flowers were upstaged by your beauty, And so, the spring died,
Without your love, I’m skin and bones, Now that you left, I’m searching for home, If I could fall I’d fall into your arms, I’d fall right now, but we’re too far apart,
Winter stormed the garden, my heart, and my soul, The absence of your touch, the presence of the cold, Everything was wrong, but now I realize this was right, I’d rather face the cold, than still be in your plight, Where love is unheard of, where warmth is faked, Where every win is but a mistake,
I’ve buried my voice for you, I’ve burnt my soul away, Now on this frozen lake, My reflection is all pain,
The ice on this lake, It’s shattering like the skies above, So in the hopes of drowning, I’m so sick of feeling fake love
Did the fire in my heart, Burn down our love?
CONNECTION BY CLAIRE KIETDURIYAKUL, 8H What is a connection? Connection to me is a rope or a chain. Invisible to the bare eye. Getting stronger all the time; Stretching over land and sea. A link between; Our hearts and theirs. Strangers connected; Never destined to meet.
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3rd Place Hearts held by a thread. Connecting and living as one. If this meeting was a place. That place would be home. This place can not be found on a map; But once linked by the power of connection you will find it. Connection is love and warmth. This is a connection to me.
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Key Stage 4 and Senior Poetry FLIGHT BY LUANNE POH, 11M
She was three when she learned to make butterflies from the shadows. Two outstretched palms, thumbs linked, fingers fluttering; the moonlight caught and tangled in her hands and splashed ink-filled outlines onto the walls of her room. Those hands, too small to fit in her mother’s palm, turned the darkness into her plaything. Nights filled with naïve laughter - every wall a canvas, waiting to be brought to life. Twenty years blur by: Now, her shadow scrapes across the asphalt with each footfall. She no longer recognises the silhouette haloed by the streetlights (had her stooped shoulders always carried such weight?)
Once a compliant marionette, once a loyal companion; how she wishes to cut its strings free! To be rid of the chains that bind her to her shadow, to try to lighten this burden of hers. A butterfly soars through the silence of the night, seeks refuge in the stars’ glimmering promises. Gold-threaded wings take her mind back to an easier time. A happier time, where glowing warmth softened the edges of her world. Her shadow stills behind her - ever changing, always connected. Take heart. She would make butterflies from her shadows... Take flight.
THE PINK RIBBON BY LILY-ANNE BOUCHER, 10M
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It's perfect after all,
The way it turns.
A pink ribbon,
Mustn't offend,
Flying gracefully through the sky,
It must be perfect.
Its beauty captivating,
The pink ribbons value
Mesmerizing,
Lesser than the blue
Longing for belonging and acceptance
Though intelligent, more stupid
But the pink ribbon has rules it must follow
Though strong, incapable
Some more obvious than others
Of making its own decisions.
The way its sits, speaks and stands
The shackles strain and weigh it down
Calculated.
But it wants to be accepted
The way it twists.
It should be perfect after all.
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DIMINUENDO BY AMANDA YONGVANICH, 12G
Every so often though, I’d treat my fellow confidantes with a harmonious melody. With every line of music, the sheets would not repair the tears or forget the previous cacophonies they had endured, The stack of piano sheets appears torn, wrinkled, and flimsy. but would instead choose to celebrate inaudibly alongside myself. Examine closely, One Sunday evening during a monthly clean I open a cardboard box – and rediscover my old companions. “It's been a while since our last encounter,” I whisper.
and you’ll catch the occasional stain of Thai tea in the form of a blotch or tiny speck. Some may say that this permanent discoloration was a result of the carelessness of its owner.
Reminiscing over these bittersweet memories, I close the box, my silent acknowledgement with the music sheets screaming louder than ever before.
But there’s more than what meets the eye. Infiltrating the midst of these gems are countless hours of willpower. Beneath its ink-written title, there lies an endless trail of notes awaiting to be deduced. As I would place the sheets one by one on the stand, They’d stare at me expressionless, covertly awaiting the sudden release of musical smoke by the grand piano. After inevitable procrastination, I’d finally take a deep breath. “Press the keys and hope for the best.” Quite often, the static pencil marks and scribbles ingrained in the papers would become victim to the unprecedented sound of disorder (most notably, the clashing combinations of contradiction and diminishing minors). Even the page would express the slightest of irritation to this dismay, tearing itself apart or loosening the tape struggling to hold it together.
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Sensational Solo Success Rachel Stead, Primary Leader of Learning - Music
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s with some other performance events, the Solo Fes- pectedly came out of using the online format and a numtival again ‘went virtual’ this year so that musicians ber of things that we still yearn for from the face-to-face from Year 1-13 could share their solo performances with version. the Bangkok Patana community. UNEXPECTED POSITIVES - ONLINE VERSION We had tremendous interest: All students can view a plethora of performances • 170 performance videos uploaded This is perhaps the most important and far reaching effect of the online platform. I noticed a pianist in Year 6 viewing • 25,000++ views of videos and commenting on other pianists’ performances at a sim• 2,500++ comments left for performers ilar level that she would normally not have seen. I noticed Primary students viewing Secondary performances and This great response speaks to the hard work and dedvice versa, classmates supporting each other and students ication of our young musicians, many of whom are not talking about what performances had inspired them. currently having lessons and most of whom were unable to work with an accompanist. Students and community can leave encouraging comments to performers Every single performance represented hours of prepaStudent peer support was phenomenal in this festival. Perration and was well presented. formers have talked about being buoyed by the encouragement. Kudos and congratulations to all our performers!! “Well done, you've worked really hard on your piano THREE THINGS WE LIKE ABOUT THE ‘VIRTUAL’ and I really liked it.” SOLO FESTIVAL In reviewing the virtual Solo Festival, both this year’s and “I want to be able to play like you when I am your age.” last, we have found a number of positive things that unex“Amazing!”
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FAKE LOVE BY AARUSHI MATHUR, 8H
2nd Place
It is possible to rewatch performances Music is a temporal art - it happens and then it’s gone. The performance is lost in time... unless it is recorded. I know I watched a number of performances several times, sometimes starting and stopping to work out what the performer had done and how. This was especially valuable when giving students useful feedback as I could check exactly what had happened.
Live performances cannot stop to re-record When things go awry on a recorded performance, you can start again. Not so for live performances. This forces performers to deal with unexpected situations and improvise a response in the moment. That might be just ignoring a wrong note and carrying on but can involve a lot more. Not all performers would say they liked this aspect but it is a real learning situation when it happens.
Collaboration with an accompanist Although this is a ‘solo’ festival, many solos are played with an accompaniment and with that accompaniment The thrill of a live audience is unbeatable comes the opportunity to make music with another musiPlaying in front of a live audience is thrilling, can be nerve cian. This is very hard at the moment and our solo festiwracking and having an audience can actually change val entrants worked alone or with backing tracks and did a performance (think ‘live’ album versus ‘studio’ album). a very good job. Unfortunately though, a backing track Performers learn to communicate with an audience and won’t slow down, speed up, play softer/louder or reuse the sense of occasion to shape the way they play. The spond to you musically as would an accompanist. euphoria and delight after playing for a live audience is What has your experience been? Have you preferred unbeatable for many. the virtual or the face-to-face Solo Festivals? I’d love to hear your thoughts (rast@patana.ac.th). THREE THINGS WE MISS FROM THE ‘FACE-TOFACE’ VERSION
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Year 6 Transition to Secondary School Grant Robertson: Senior Teacher, Student Welfare and Safeguarding Lead
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t was wonderful to communicate with the parents, guardians and students of Grad’28 in a live event on Thursday. We had a remarkable 429 people join us online for a session where our priority was to reassure the students (and some mums and dads!) that this was an exciting new chapter and nothing to be anxious about. In advance of this event we sent Year 6 families detailed information booklets to help with transition and clarify expectations for Year 7 students. This is all essential stuff, but inevitably can be a little dry in places with lots about rules and regulations, so to add a more personal touch we had Year 7s write letters to the Year 6 students outlining their experiences and telling them what to expect. The Year 6s then excitedly liaised with the older students with Q and A. The overall message from the Year 7s was “it’s no big deal, just do your best and teachers and other students will help: stop worrying as everyone will help you find your way. Secondary is fun!” Year 7 students and Heads of Subject also made videos for the Year 6 families to communicate the key information and most valuable advice to help them prepare for the exciting transition in August.
students. The resources on offer to support this learning from a subject specific perspective are second to none and students should be poised to learn in world class Science laboratories, Design + Technology workshops, Art and Drama Studios, to name just a few. TIM JARRETT: HEAD OF YEAR 7 FROM AUGUST 2021 From a pastoral perspective, it was fantastic to connect with next year’s Year 7 parents and students. The live event was intended to put the new members of Secondary School at ease and to support the current Year 6’s as we approach the end of the 2020/21 academic year. I had the opportunity to address all the most common questions that Grad’28 had before the summer holiday. No query was too big or small! Some of the questions addressed included “when do Year 7 students get their lockers?” Their allocated locker will be next door to their home room tutor base and their tutors will give them their locker code on the first day in August. Other questions were on the timings of break (9.15am-9.35am) and lunch (12.15pm-1.10pm) and when are Year 7 allowed to get their food in the Secondary Canteen - Year 7s are allowed in before everyone else as they settle in and then there is a rota.
During the live event itself, Grant Robertson (Senior Teacher, Student Welfare and Safeguarding Lead), Andy Roff (Senior Teacher, Curriculum and Assessment) and Tim We loved fielding all the queries and we could sense the Jarrett (Head of Year 7 from August 2021) presented to excitement over the airwaves as one chapter in Grad’28’s the families and received live questions. learning journey closes and a new chapter opens in August. Have an amazing summer Year 6; we can’t wait to ANDY ROFF: SENIOR TEACHER, CURRICULUM see you as Year 7 (in person) in August. AND ASSESSMENT The message most important to convey in terms of curriculum is that it should be something for students and parents to be excited about. Every year the Secondary teaching team grasps the opportunity to induct a new group of Year 7 learners into their particular subject, to impart in those students their own love of learning and spark a curiosity which grows into passionate interest in a carefully designed learning environment. It is a process that we are adept at, sympathetic to the needs of our transitioning 10
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School photo orders are ready and were scheduled to be distributed last week, but the school campus is still closed. We are hopeful that the campus will be allowed to reopen before the end of term, and in that case will deliver packages to the students as usual. However, for families that may be leaving or may need their orders earlier, you may be able to have the orders mailed to you (THB 60 baht for paper photo printing, THB 180 baht for other items) or arrange to pick them up at USmile. Please contact USmile directly (ONLY if you need delivery before we return to school) through: • Line : @usmilekids • Email : info@usmile.co.th • Tel. : 02 714 4602-3 You will need to give Usmile your child(ren)’s name and class. SCAN TO LEARN HOW TO ACCESS THE LIBRARY’S SELECTION OF E-BOOKS IN SORA
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Year 5 Rainforest Short Story Third Prize Rainforest Boy Maya Hornby, 5B A long time ago, in a land far away, stood a village of people and lots of them were hunters! Hunting for tigers, snakes, monkeys and whatever crosses their path. According to the tribe, the hunter who got the biggest animal would be the king of the village. But one day when the king sent children out to hunt, that was about to change...
car. The boy was shocked at how fast he was going. A moment later, the creature snatched a bird off the tree for him. The boy put the bird on his head to see if it suits him, it was not big enough compared to the king’s one.
The pair raced through the forest, like a lightning bolt, As a young boy set off to hunt, as instructed by king of collecting animals. They got all sorts of creatures like the village, he was overwhelmed by the tall trees tower- bears, tigers, crocodiles, elephants, anything you can ing over him. Whilst also feeling tempted and ambitious to name! But they did ignore one animal… It was a very capture a creature to make his town proud. He felt like he amusing bird that was dancing, blocking their way. It was couldn't do it, since all he caught so far was a frog mixed singing so out of pitch that they had to avoid it, being with a daddy long legs spider. Not looking above his careful not to get stuck dancing. head, a cheeky monkey hanging from the trees snatched They climbed trees as high as mountains. At one point the frog off him and ran like the wind. He chased after they leapt out of the trees, but then diving back into the him, but the monkey was on a tall branch that he couldn’t green sea. The boy felt so free from everything in his life. reach. Suddenly, the monkey disappeared, like it had Until the key to his freedom got trapped… powers. The trap set off an alarm that called to the hunters in the When the monkey disappeared, you could almost village. The boy had to think fast because if he didn’t, he hear the silence. A dark feeling crept up on the boy. And knew that something bad would happen to the chamewhen the boy looked behind him…, he saw an enormous leon. So, he cut the rope that would drop the chameleon chameleon staring straight into his eyes. The creature to the ground. For a second the young boy hesitated, he was painted like nature, it burped out the monkey and was thinking about being king of the village with the chathe frog! Giving straight to the boy. He was amazed, he meleon's head sitting on his. He shook that thought out of couldn’t believe his eyes. The creature picked up the frog his head, he loved the creature too much to let him go. and turned into the same colour as it. The boy His heart skipped a beat, what should he do? removed the frog from its mouth, then the chameleon When the hunters arrived, they stood in shock, examcame running by his side, like it was protecting him. ining the big bag of animals that was collected from all The boy put the frog in his pocket and stayed for a over the jungle, that the boy had left. while, figuring out what the creature wanted. The chaToday the boy and chameleon are still running through meleon picked him up and ran at the speed of a race the forest, together.
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We are: Relentless Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Tips Shelly Kaplan, 11A with Polly Nevin, 11M, Lauren Lim, 11B, Elio Pauze, 11B and Louie Kelly, 11P
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or all future DOE’ers this article is perfect for you, these are our tips and tricks that will make your DOE experience even better. Throughout the expedition, we had many highlights and learned new skills along the way such as leadership. As a group, we think that we have learned a range of skills such as teamwork and perseverance.
during lunch, created a group chat and divided the work up equally between ourselves and consulted each other when we were unsure.
The next tip is to not bring incredibly old or new hiking boots. The first Bronze trek I went on, my boots literally fell apart on the last day because they were so old, I made Our first tip would have to be, sharing the workload it to the end, but the situation was one I would rather not equally. Create a group chat and just communicate repeat! However, new shoes can be just as bad if not with each other, ask for help when you need it because worse, there is a large possibility that they will rub your feet there is nothing more important than working as a team. and cause blisters which makes walking quite painful. AnAs a team there are the advantages of having different other connected small tip is bring blister plasters, although strengths within the team, if one of you is very confident plasters are already on the kit list, they are for more than in navigation then they should help others who may not scrapes, if you do happen to get blisters then plasters are be as confident. For our group, we met up a few times a good way to protect the skin for the next day!
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CAT/CAS CORNER
Human Trafficking in 2021: Are We Past it or Not? Pon Pingkarawat, 12H
The views of articles in our CAT/CAS column are those of the author. HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CAMBODIA ambodia remains a significant destination for human trafficking, due to its remoteness and limited ability to enforce human trafficking policies by authorities [5]. Many people who end up arriving here come through illegal human trafficking rings, particularly by crime syndicates and parents who sell their children off, with a majority of the workers originally from Vietnam. Almost 35 percent of the 15,000 people forced into sex work are under the age of 16, many of which are deceived with fake guises similar to the situation in Burkina Faso, such as working as waiters or waitresses [6].
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forcement, with the majority of officers entering homes without permission and arresting innocent people. Corruption remains another issue in the fight against human trafficking. Many authorities at all levels of power were reported to waste resources solely dedicated to combating human trafficking, instead targeting people who had no association to human trafficking at all, such as social media users and journalists. This is further reflected in the government agency Anti-Human Trafficking Juvenile Police (AHTJP)’s attempt to monitor and record information regarding human trafficking reports, but as of December 2020 no meaningful information had been obtained, despite the investigation period taking a year to complete.
The effect of COVID-19 is also noteworthy in Cambodia. In the first quarter of the year, Cambodia recorded 85 human trafficking cases, instead of the usual 50-60 range average in the same time period last year [7]. This could be attributed to the “limited education levels of people and brokers who were taking advantage of the economic distress caused by COVID-19”, said Chou Bun Eng, the Vice Chair of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) in Cambodia. While this could be true, another reason not mentioned could be the significant loss of jobs Cou Bun Eng talks at a press conference earlier this experienced by Cambodia because of the virus in Cambodia. Since the outbreak arrived in Cambodia, 390,000 month, courtesy of The Star [7] people have been estimated to lose their jobs while the Although during the time of investigation of this source poverty rate doubled to 17.6 percent [8]. This could lead [6], Cambodia was making significant progress and ef- people into desperation, eventually selling themselves or forts to curb human trafficking, such as registering people the people around them or in their community off to human who had sold off or bought illegally trafficked people, traffickers. establishing a five-year plan to tackle human trafficking [5] U.S. Department of State (2020), Retrieved May 11, 2021 and utilising database technology to identify victims and [6] humantrafficking.org (20 April 2006), Retrieved May 11, 2021 protect them. However, a main issue facing Cambodia’s fight against human trafficking is the judicial system, which [7] Unknown, The Star (11 May 2021) remains outdated to this day, allowing convicted human traffickers to escape continued arrest or any sentences On next week’s article: Final thoughts without any repercussions. Furthermore, the government also did not have a successful implementation of law en14
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Does Science Have the Right To Play God? Pon Pingkarawat, 12H
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n one hand, people may argue that Science does some guidelines were published if a country ever were to have the right to play God. One of the primary consider the legalisation of CRISPR Gene editing. [1] reasons we humans decide to do Science is to learn more Guidelines include, but are not limited to: about how we can use the tools and materials available to us to our advantage, such as blacksmithing to create Limitation “to cases where people have no or very poor swords, which do a lot more damage than just mere sticks options for having a child without the disease”, or clubs. “Pregnancy with edited embryos should not be attemptMany laboratories are undergoing clinical trials to get ed unless it is possible to make only the intended gene replacement organs - liver and muscles - artificially grown changes and not any unintended ones”, and in a laboratory condition approved for widespread medi“Extensive public discussions should be held before any cal use. This opportunity could never have come to fruition country decides to allow editing embryos, eggs or sperm”. if not for the desire to cure illness and heal disease afflicting our day-to-day lives. These guidelines are reasonably agreeable and jusThe tool CRISPR, could very well become the next step in curing illness. Thirty-eight million people currently have aids [2]. With a gene alteration where the effect of AIDS/ HIV is wholly eradicated, this could mean that there are 38 million more people who can fill up jobs, have the opportunity to live like ordinary people and be part of a functioning society.
tified, based on the fact that there are still gaps in our knowledge about CRISPR functionality and its possible unintended consequences. In an important issue like this, playing safe and ensuring that every bit of information regarding the issue is recorded would be the most beneficial option since this area of Science is moving very heavily into the application of scientific research, not the understanding.
This seems like a reasonably hopeful but bold step in Even if CRISPR gene editing were legal, there is a genScience, curing illness and negating disease. However, uine chance that the process would be pretty expensive, CRISPR, as it stands, is not as shiny and revolutionary as putting massive percentages of the population unable to people may think. access this technology, leaving it to the rich. Issues such as Even though this year’s (2020) Nobel prize winner [3] enhanced strength, intelligence or analytical skills could was awarded based on her discoveries of a tool to as- give the children unfair advantages over less privileged sist in gene editing, it can still be argued that CRISPR and children from less privileged families and households who gene editing may not be safe enough for use by the gen- do not have access to that technology. eral public. In a report published by members of the US Find our author’s conclusion here on Scientia MagaNational Academy of Medicine, US National Academy of the Sciences and the United Kingdom’s Royal Society, zine.
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ARTS COUNCIL
Exploring Different Cultures and World Affairs Through Art Bianca Bertoli, 11B oing Fine Art (I)GCSE allowed me to explore a wide variety of culture and world affairs through art. I am Australian and British however I have lived abroad in Southeast Asia my whole life; therefore, being exposed to a culturally diverse lifestyle. Growing up with such a wide range of cultures, nationalities and ways of life has taught me so much and has been a real eye-opener, which has brought all forms of art as well. As I have been exposed to such a wide range of art, choosing the topic of culture has really supported this through its diversity. Another main theme I tried to incorporate into my final pieces was sustainability as in my pieces I incorporated either reused or recycled materials.
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I decided to focus one of my final pieces on the Thai culture by the river and the more rural parts of Bangkok and the other two on the Australian bushfires. The bushfires in Australia occur regularly but was globally publicised in 2019/2020 due to the fires getting out of hand, leaving many families in Australia (especially in the state of New South Wales) affected. Some of these were my family members, hence my decision to focus on the fires and raise awareness through my art. In the piece here (inspired by Alexander McQueen), I wanted to portray the severity of the fires by having half of the dress burnt and the other half as if the fires would be engulfing the person wearing the dress. I used a variety of reused old materials like wire and fabric to show the sustainability and represent rejuvenation that happened after the bushfires occurred. Additionally, the extra fabric from the dress, was used to create the background of my second piece dedicated to the Australian Bushfires. This piece was more culturally relevant and connected to Australian culture as it included the in16
digenous, Aboriginal dot painting on the boomerang. The placement of the fabric and boomerangs was so that the effect of the fires would further create a feeling of danger to the people viewing it.
Finally, I wanted to focus on the culture in the riverside rural parts of Bangkok because as an expat, this part of Thailand is not exposed and not really studied. It was interesting that the older, more rustic structures have so much detail and are all so different from one another and presents so much variety. Additionally, seeing the culture from the way the people live in these houses differed vastly from people in the city. To go along with my sustainability through mixed media, I painted this rural house on a plank of wood with additional protruding pieces to make the image of rustcicality seem more vivid. I used bottle caps and chicken wire (mainly in the Khlong) to represent the increasing use of plastic and how it is affecting the environment itself but the way in which we perceive the world we live in. Overall, I have really enjoyed my (I)GCSE fine art course and look forward to exploring different themes and techniques in IB Art.
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Exploring Self-expression Through Art Natanisha (Candy) Nalinthrangkurn, 12T
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rt is all about the freedom of expression, and in IB Visual Arts, there are practically no limits to exploration. Having studied graphic art in (I)GCSE, I found it quite hard to adjust and adapt to a class filled with Fine Art students. I constantly doubted my own skills and whether I was able to pursue this course. However, I realised that art wasn’t just about being able to copy something perfectly, but rather the context and thought behind each piece. Furthermore, the scope of IB Art is vastly diverse, meaning I had the freedom to explore any mediums from sculpting, printing to painting. During these few months, I have been exploring symbolism behind the eyes. We perceive the world through our eyes, they are used to express emotions and also reflect cultures and beauty standards within society. To do this, I have been studying artists like Alexander Maw, an artist that explores ‘captured memories’ through eyes and preserving these memories in frames. The current piece I am working on is a digital piece depicting a pair of eyes. The idea behind this was to reflect how we as individuals
see the world and how our perception varies depending on our experiences, imagination and mindset. To emphasise this idea, I attempted to create the ‘Mona Lisa effect’ where the subject of the painting continuously follows the viewer’s gaze. For media, I chose digital as I wanted to create an overly smooth look to mirror the idea of expectations within society and how these are illusions that we can never fit into (and shouldn’t have to fit into). The arts have taught me self-expression and are especially valuable when conveying messages that are easier to understand through visuals. We perceive art differently which is what makes it so special, you may find yourself spotting hidden meanings that even the artist themselves overlooked.
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UNI COUNSELORS’ CORNER
University Offers Vrund Italiya
University of Southern California, Boston University, University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business, University of Toronto, Northeastern University, University of Washington and York University. Finance and Computer Science
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’m attending USC (University of Southern California) because it is one of the few universities that exposes me to such a diverse and dynamic city like Los Angeles. Located in the center of LA it will best prepare me for my career in Business and through its extensive Trojan network it will connect me with like-minded individuals that hope to have an impact on the world. The vast amount of resources USC offers its students to explore not only their own majors, but also other fields of study is incomparable to some of the other universities I have applied to, and I cannot wait to explore my passions at USC. I am looking to expose myself to various cultures and perspectives and these schools all embodied an international student body that would fulfill my expectations.” “I plan to study Finance and Computer Science. Listening to my family talking about business and finance sparked an interest in me which has ultimately led me to apply for business at prospective universities. Although there are preconceptions around finance, I want to explore how I can have an impact on the people around me through the lens of Finance and Computer Science.” “During my time at Bangkok Patana I have been the Co-president of Rescued Glass. Rescued Glass aims to reduce glass waste by recycling disposed glass bottles into new decorative household products. We’ve been a successful startup amongst staff and students that has also expanded to other international schools across Bangkok. I was heavily involved in service in my years at Bangkok Patana, specifically, CubeCare, taking a trip to deliver tens of thousands of baht worth of medicine to rural villages, which proved beneficial amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Through some of my closest friends I developed a passion for volleyball, which I started getting involved in the last few years through JV and Varsity Volleyball.”
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In the Spotlight...
University of Strathclyde, UK
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ocated in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, this is a leading international technological university with 23,000 students from 100 countries. Strathclyde is known for its International Study Centre that offers international students the chance to succeed. The university offers a range of subjects, but has a focus on technological and scientific studies. Research is also an important part of Strathclyde’s offerings, with key focuses on health, manufacturing and energy, among others. Also on offer are a wide variety of partnerships with businesses as well as other higher education institutions, both inside and outside of the UK. Notable alumni include Team GB swimmer Robbie Renwick, inventor John Logie Baird, explorer David Livingstone and comedian Ed Byrne.
CLICK HERE FOR LOST PROPERTY ONLINE
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#186: Microsoft Outlook Board View O
utlook Calendar Boards is a new feature in Outlook 365 to manage your time and projects. Board Views let you add Calendars, Tasks, OneNote Notes, Goals, Files, people and lots more to a two-dimensional infinite board to visualise your project for personal productivity. Board Views in Outlook is available to Patana students and staff right now. Watch the video below to find out more…
TABLE OF CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 0:18 Create your Outlook Board View in the calendar 0:54 Zoom in and out and arrange your basic Board 2:17 OneNote integration 3:10 Add more parts to your Board 5:25 Lock your Board 5:37 Add a Collection to your Board 6:40 Wrap up Have a relaxing weekend. Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration 20
Bangkok Patana School News
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Desert Island Discs With Andrew Haughton, Careers and Universities Counsellor
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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 Andrew Haughton, Careers and Universities Counsellor, is stuck on a desert island. MR HAUGHTON, IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT EIGHT PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Wildfires - Sault Devil Inside Me - Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes. Senegal Fast Food - Amadou & Mariam (feat. Manu Chao) Waterfall - The Stone Roses Sunshine’s better - John Martyn (Talvin Singh remix) Listen to Mr Haughton’s playlist here
Mogwai Fear Satan - Mogwai Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi - Radiohead The Boy with Arab Strap -Belle and Sebastian
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. My 56-degree sand wedge golf club WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome Catch the real Desert Island Discs on BBC. Now that you are stuck at home, what are you listening to? Have a list of your own? Let us know! Contact SHKN with your favourites.
Have you bookmarked next year’s calendar yet? 2021/22 CALENDAR
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COMMUNITY NOTICES
Bangkok Community Theatre is looking for directors for a series of comedy productions to be made this summer on Zoom. We can provide some editing support and virtual backgrounds as needed but in general, this is an easy, low stress, low risk project for new and experienced directors alike. Don't worry if you've never directed before - there is a first time for everything! The theme for Volume 3 is short Zoom comedies so everything must be filmed on Zoom (allowing directors and actors to be anywhere in the world, a comedy, and under 10 minutes including credits. If you think you might like to direct a Zoom production for Volume 3 and want to find out what it will entail, please email shorts@bangkokcommunitytheatre.com
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For daily updates, snapshots and news on life at school you can find us here...
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 24
Bangkok Patana School News
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