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PATANA NEWS
Friday 4th March 2022
Diverse and Inclusive By Cindy Adair
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Also in this issue... M
Swim Like Michael Phelps Primary Sports Days Smile Day Book Drive University Spotlight Calendar Update
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Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
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What Does it Mean to be
a DIVERSE and INCLUSIVE School?
Cindy Adair, Cross Campus Assistant Principal
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angkok Patana School has as its Vision Statement, “…to develop global citizens who shape their world through independence, empathy, creativity and critical thinking”. Part of being a global citizen involves being a member of a diverse community and learning to be truly inclusive. At Bangkok Patana, diversity is a FACT – we have 60+ nationalities; families who practice a range of religions; community members who are neurodiverse; community members who have a range of gender identities and sexual orientations. Inclusion, however, is an ACT. To make sure everyone feels safe, protected and secure and can learn in a place where they feel they truly belong, takes a conscious effort from us all. As Verna Myers puts it, “Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.” Inclusion starts by recognising who might be excluded by our current systems and asking ourselves regularly “Who is not at the table?” Diverse opinions and perspectives can ensure decision making and a curriculum that is more inclusive by design. Nike’s hijab for Muslim athletes and the Xbox’s adaptive gaming controller are great examples of huge global organisations are embracing inclusion. Check out this awesome advertisement for the Adaptive Xbox, aired at the 2019 Super Bowl. When everyone plays, we all win – I couldn’t agree more! Diversity and inclusion are a key intersection where
our values of Well-Being and Global Citizenship meet. Research shows that adverse childhood experiences involving discrimination can be a key indicator of future mental health struggles. The UK Equality Act of 2010 outlines nine protected characteristics, which in the UK, are illegal to use as a basis for discrimination in schools, workplaces and in the community. As a British School, Bangkok Patana references these same characteristics in our global citizenship policies: • • • • • • • • •
Age Sex Race Gender Identity Marital Status Religion and Spiritual Beliefs Disability/Neurodiversity Sexual Orientation Marital/Civil Partnership Status
Some of these are uncomfortable topics that may not be common to discuss openly, and in some cultures may even be considered taboo. However, as a school that honours diversity and promotes inclusion, these are conversations we must have - in a supportive and age-appropriate manner, of course. Our caring and articulate students are up for the challenge! Recently a colleague said to me during a discussion about gender identity
Recently, Bangkok Patana staff have been participating in World Cafe CPL sessions focused on Diversity and Inclusion. Topics of discussion are further broken down into more specific topics, such as Gender and Race.
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Student-led CPL sessions have engaged students in the development of Bangkok Patana’s Vision and Guiding Statements. Integrating student voices into Staff CPL provisions ensures that student voices are being heard and acknowledged, and that the issues they are passionate about are being addressed effectively.
and how to better support non-binary students, “…the shared humanity. Recently, our staff were asked to conironic thing is… that inclusion itself IS binary… we are ei- sider the danger of stereotypes at Bangkok Patana. If ther inclusive or we are not.” you have time this weekend, watch this fantastic TED Talk from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Often, the gateway to empathy and understanding is where she explores how her early reading and writing through stories and personal experiences. The idea of experiences shaped her thinking. My favourite quote is, someone who is different to you can be challenging, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but when that “other” is a friend in your tutor group, a but that they are incomplete. They make the one story, beloved teacher or a favourite coach – you can start to the only story.” see beyond the differences and focus instead on your During my research, I came across this graphic from an organisation called The 4th Box. I hope you find it as thought provoking as I did!
REALITY: One gets more than is needed, while the other gets less than is needed. Thus a huge disparity is created.
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EQUALITY: The assumption is that everyone benefits from the same supports. This is considered to be equal treatment.
EQUITY: Everyone gets the support they need, which produces equity.
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LIBERATION/JUSTICE: All three can see the game without supports or accommodations because the cause of the inequity has been addressed. The systemic barrier has been removed. 3
SCIENTIA: The Science of Swimming Like Michael Phelps Prin Chantarangkul, 12A
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hy can’t everyone swim like Michael Phelps? There is a combination of sciences that need to be explored to attain the definitive answer to this question. The slight change in the degree of entry into the water from the blocks to the slow push off on the opposite wall may mean the difference between winning and losing a race. We often look at science for the reason things happen, and swimming is no different. The physics involved in being a swimmer can assist us in understanding not only why we cannot all win, but how we can all improve. To understand how we can enhance our performance in a race, we must talk about the fastest moment in swimming: the dive. Let’s explore the dive into further detail and how someone can go under five seconds for 15-meters. The first concept I would like to explore is the position of the swimmer on the blocks. The physics involved in the dive is using chemical energy to move your arms forward, then adding the kinetic energy of the forward direction and the gravitational potential energy of falling, therefore you enter the water faster. These add up to the total energy that launches us forwards. There are many types of race starts, from a grab start to a front-weighted kick start (Ricardo Peterson Silveira, 2018), that swimmers can experiment with to find the best fit for themselves. Ricardo’s paper concluded that there isn’t enough evidence available for us to determine the best race start, however swimmers currently tend to prefer the track starts. In all types of sports involving a track start, athletes that have higher hips on the track tend to have a faster reaction time and a greater horizontal force, (Bezodis, N.E., Willwacher, S. & Salo, A.I.T., 2019) allowing them to push off with greater velocity. Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion, which states that “Forces equals Mass times Acceleration,” (Britannica/E. Gregersen, 2021) tells us that you will achieve a faster acceleration from a greater force. To increase this force, we must use our arms to pull the blocks, whilst swinging in a coupling motion, ending up in a perfect streamline. Using the whole body creates a bigger force than just the legs. Once we have broken the inertia of the start, carrying the momentum into the water is important, as water is denser than air and drastically slows us down. The formula, Momentum equals mass times velocity (Physics
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Classroom/Tom Henderson) shows us that we have to keep the velocity the same otherwise the momentum will decrease. As we enter the water, it is best for your feet to enter where your hand has entered since your fingertips have already broken the surface tension of the water. The water molecules on the surface of the water have strong attraction towards each other as each molecule is pulling each other from all directions, however molecules on the surface don’t have a pull from all directions so they have a stronger pull from neighbouring molecules (Biolin Scientific/Susanna Lauren, 2020). This is where a tight streamline would be incredibly helpful. Swimmers may want to flick their hips upwards just before entering the water so that their lower bodies enter the hole created by the upper body, thus minimising the surface area of the body that is in contact with the surface of the water. Entering the water at the optimal angle of 30 degrees (M.T.Gallivan and T.B.Hoshizaki, 1986) will allow for the best glide phase, close enough to the surface of the water to exit without being too far under the water. The advantage many champion swimmers have is making use of the principle behind Newton’s 3rd Law. Known as “underwater kicks”, “dolphin kicks”, “butterfly kicks”, or 5th stroke, swimmers move their lower body in an upward and downward motion underwater after their initial entry into the water. Usually, average swimmers don’t have strong enough underwater kicks, as their upward kicks are just a reset for the downward kick. In Newton’s 3rd Law, it states that “for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction” (Britannica/E.Gregersen, 2021), so every movement creates an advantage to move faster through the water. Having both a powerful up-kick and down-kick will be useful for your dives and turns, helping you touch the wall before your opponents. This review discussed the applied theories of physics implemented to analyse the perfect dive. Overall, the perfect dive consists of three major concepts: the starting position, the entry, and the underwater kicks. As a rapidly evolving sport, the willingness to apply new theories and new techniques will assist swimmers with improving their ability to be best both in and out of the pool.
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Patana Participates! Achievements from Our Community:
Have a story to share? Send your information & photos to stml@patana.ac.th Scott Tooley, Head of Faculty, Mathematics A number of participants from the Bangkok Patana community took up the challenge of completing the Amazing Thailand Half Marathon in the early hours of Sunday morning last weekend. This meant 21.1km of pure enjoyment for some, and a different experience for others. Everyone got around safely, so well done to all the staff that took part. Staff participants included Scott Tooley, Oliver Blundell, Iain Murphy, Ana Wadsworth, Todd Thornback and Daniel Morrison. Maybe we will see a few more of you at the next one! Congratulations, also, to the other members of the Bangkok Patana community that were spotted there that night.
Phasin (Lookkid ) Sinchalong, 5D Congratulations to Phasin (Lookkid ) Sinchalong, 5D, who was awarded the National Under 12 Singles Tennis Champion after having won the Kings Cup event. He was also runner up in the Doubles event and has been selected for the National Under 12 Team. A fantastic achievement!
Sayako Ikeda, 10H Congratulations to Sayako Ikeda, 10H, who has been selected for the Chonburi Woman’s Football Club for the 2022 Thai Women’s League Division I. As a young, non-Thai football player, it is often difficult to be selected for one of the top professional clubs in Thailand. Sayako was further chosen to play in the first match and we wish her luck throughout this football season! The Ikeda family was happy to share this news as encouragement for other students to pursue their football careers within Thailand.
Joshua Burkill, 8K Well done to Joshua Burkill, 8K, who recently took part in the Surrey County Swim Championships in the UK. He won gold in his 200 fly in 2.23.36 and gold in the 100 fly in 66.86. He also won silvers in the 200 IM in 2.31.61 and in the 400 IM in 5.26.07. His 200 fly places him at the top of the British rankings in the 13-year-old category!
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Foundation Stage Sports Day THURSDAY 17 TH M ARCH 2022 TIME: 8:00AM—9:30AM VENUE: PRIMARY BACK FIELD
Please note that due to the current circumstances, parents will not be able to attend this event.
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Key Stage One Sports Day Wednesday 16th March Please note that due to the current circumstances parents will not be able to attend this event.
Please ensure that your child comes to School in their PE kit complete with a hat, bottle of water and remember to apply plenty of sun cream for their exciting Sports Morning.
Year 1 Classes are participating from 7.45am to 9:15am Year 2 Classes are participating from 10.05am to 11:30am 04/03/2022
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FRIDAY 11TH MARCH
SMILE DAY (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY)
WEAR YOUR BRIGHTEST CLOTHES AND YOUR BIGGEST SMILE! SUGGESTED DONATION 100 THB ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OPERATION SMILE
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BRACELETS FOR SALE Smile Club Patana
Options Include: > Smile Bracelet (30THB) > Personalized Bracelet (50 THB) > Friendship Bracelet (90THB)
CONTACT ESTELLE (NAKM22) FOR MORE INFORMATION! Click to Order! LINK INHere DESCRIPTION All proceeds will be donated to Operation Smile to support cleft palate /lip surgery.
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Calling All Students Are you interested in global issues? Do you want to be able to make changes to our society?
JOIN MUN NOW MONDAY 14:30-15:30 REASONS TO JOIN Make new friends Build leadership skills Develop public speaking For university applications Learn about policies and tactics Build an awareness of world affairs Discuss the perspective of your country
REACH US ON
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@bpsmodelun
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Wildlife Spotting with Coke Half-Term Expedition Alexander Coke Smith IV, Secondary Environmental Sciences Leader
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’ve been very happy to have such positive feedback on my bi-weekly columns on Wildlife Viewing in Thailand. I’ve particularly enjoyed being out in the field myself and running into folks and families from the Bangkok Patana School family who are out enjoying nature and who’ve been inspired from these articles! Such a thrill! I normally try to focus on local highlights, but this week’s column will once again take us to the far north of Thailand – remote Chiang Mai Province – the Dois! We also visited the wild Kaeng Krachan area on our return to Bangkok. My family’s Half Term expedition took us primarily to Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, one of Thailand’s least visited natural gems. Doi Pha Hom Pok hugs Thailand’s border with Burma and is very close to many of Chiang Rai’s tourist hotspots. I would definitely recommend a visit for those interested in the incredible
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nature and biodiversity that still remains in these incredible mountains (or dois). The montane deciduous forests of these mountains (Doi San Ju and Doi Lang) are rife with life, especially during this late winter period. Things will soon start to quiet down as most of the migrants return north. This expedition was incredible. We netted incredible numbers of species and we were privileged to see so many amazing wildlife displays and interactions in the west and north of Thailand. I will let the images speak for themselves. If you are interested in the precise locations to visit and a detailed description on how to find and photograph, or simply observe, these amazing creatures, please feel free to contact me (cosm@patana.ac.th) and we can chat! Hope to see you out in the field!
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Check out more photos on the next page!
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Careers and University Counseling Office:
University Spotlight
WHAT’S NEW IN THE LIBRARIES Early Years’ Library Primary Library Secondary Library
Fiction Non-Fiction Fiction Non-Fiction Comic Books & Oversized Books
Fiction Life Collection
Non-Fiction Senior Fiction
Want to recommend a book for our library? Check out our new recommendation form! All Library and magazine subscriptions listed here
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#211: What Parents Need to Know About NFTs A
non-fungible token, or NFT, is a unique digital record of a particular file – such as an image, audio track or video (non-fungible meaning it can’t be replaced by an identical item). NFTs let digital content producers like artists and designers control how their work is distributed and monetised. The offline equivalent would be owning a limited-edition art print, signed by the artist, with a certificate of authentication. The value of NFTs is incredibly volatile, unregulated and very much based on hype, publicity and marketing. These digital assets – typically collectibles, avatars for social media profiles or character add-ons for online games – are traded in specialised marketplaces using cryptocurrency. In the guide linked to the left, you’ll find tips on a number of potential risks such as IP theft, scams and financial loss. Stay safe and healthy. Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration
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Desert Island Discs With James Blyth, Primary English Language Instructor
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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 Primary English Language Instructor, James Blyth, is stuck on a desert island. MR JAMES BLYTH, IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT EIGHT PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? ThunderCats Theme Song
Inspector Gadget - London Studio Works
Danger Mouse Theme Song
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme Song
Scooby Doo Theme Song
Meet the Flinstones - Hoyt Curtain
Duck Tales Theme Song
Nelson Mandela - The Specials Click to listen to Mr James Blyth’s playlist
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 collection of kinetic sand - hours of fun! WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cones 4-7 (Lark Ceramics Books) 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 STML with your favourites.
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COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
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