Patana News Volume 25 Issue 34

By Matt Mills

Farewell Bangkok Patana!

Greetings everyone,

I must admit it does feel a little strange writing my final Patana News article to you all after 15 years leading the school. This is the longest I have ever stayed in a school and that’s because I discovered a school that had all the magical ingredients that make the difference between a good school and a great school. Bangkok Patana is a GREAT school:

will enhance their school. And hope that their castles are made of stone and not sand.

In some ways the history book on the shelf is not always repeating itself. New dangers, new possibilities, new challenges and new thrills stand before this current generation of young people who attend a GREAT school. One hopes that with a fair wind, life for them will not be about Money, Money, Money, but a great deal more………

I wish Chris Sammons all the very best as he takes the baton in early August and I hope he enjoys the privilege of leading such an incredibly special school as much as I have.

SENIOR DELEGATES 2022/23:

“The history book on the shelf is always repeating itself” sang ABBA. The first history book I looked at when I arrived at Bangkok Patana was the “Fifty Years of Bangkok Patana School”. After reading the book cover to cover, two thoughts crossed my mind: first, I began to learn the character, nuance and complexity of my new school; secondly, I realised with trepidation that when the next Bangkok Patana book comes out, I will be in it! Welcome to the big-leagues, Mr Mills!

For me, that thought has been there every day, somewhere. Not because of ego, but because of privilege and because of the onerous responsibility of doing one’s best for a school with an existing high reputation to leave the place better than you found it. The hand of history on the shoulder never loosens its grip.

All a leader can do is to hope to live out what they believe and pass these values down as tangible, long-lasting changes that

Congratulations to our four Senior Delegates who have done a superb job in their roles this academic year and we wish them all the very best in their tertiary years.

We are very pleased with our academic success over the years and have a high expectation that our results will be stronger than ever this academic year. Over the past 11 months I have observed confident polite students who are at ease in wanting to question to improve their understanding on any given new concept. All of our student successes are beautifully showcased in the 2022/23 Yearbook, which is being published as I write this account. Many thanks to the Marketing Team, who have taken literally thousands of photos of our

Kylie Kim Giles Kinsella Rie Aiyama Hugo Chen

students in action over the past year and have spent countless hours putting together this year’s compilation.

for 23 years of distinguished service to the school. We will miss them and wish them all the very best for their future.

A very special farewell to the Graduating Class of 2023 as they embark on their tertiary studies.

I would like to thank every teacher and staff member for their professional dedication in helping guide our students to reach their full potential.

Special thanks to the myriad of Business Staff who continue to help and support the Academic Staff on a daily basis - what would we do without you?

Deepest thanks also go out to our wonderful supportive PTG, who are so ably led by our PTG Chair, Safi Rizk.

As usual, being an international school, we have a number of students and families leaving us this year and we want to wish all of them the very best for their future wherever they are moving to around the world. Please stay in contact with us, as we are keen to stay in touch and welcome you to our worldwide Alumni group – please take a moment to register on www. patana.ac.th/alumni to receive the latest news and reunion invitations.

We also have a number of teachers leaving us this year, as we do every year, and we want to wish them all the very best as they move on to new positions around the world. A special farewell to Kerry Meaden-Kendrick and Khun Debra Youplub

On behalf of Sarah McCormack, Helen Thew, Matt Seddon, Craig White and myself, we would like to wish all of our Bangkok Patana community a wonderful, safe, summer holiday and they look forward to welcoming you all back to school on Wednesday August 16.

Enjoy your last weekend before summer!

Remember it’s not goodbye but see you later….

Best wishes and a heartfelt thank you to you all!

Matt Mills Head of School 2008 - 2023

Patana Page-Turners

Your monthly round up of reading recommendations. This month’s theme… Escapism and Adventure

INTERVIEW: DR IAIN MURPHY, HEAD OF FACULTY, EAL

1. What is one of your fondest or most favourite reading memories?

Reading Shackleton’s voyage to the Antarctic in the book Endurance is one of my favourite reading memories. The book really resonated with me as my father spent two years in the Antarctic in the 1950’s and so it helped me to imagine what that experience must have been like for him.

2. Which fictional character would you most like / least like to meet in real life and why?

I’m currently listening through Stephen Fry’s wonderful audiobook version of the Harry Potter series with my son and one character springs to mind for ‘least like to meet in real life’. That is the revolting, repulsive Dolores Umbridge.

3. What does the theme ‘Escapism and Adventure’ mean to you?

Do you have any book suggestions for this theme?

Escapism and adventure to me means being able to move outside of your everyday sphere of life and its usual activities: to go to a place full of opportunities and dreams. Two books that immediately spring to mind about this are: Everest: The Ascent by Harriet Tuckey and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. Both of these books took me out of my comfort zone as a reader and made me realise what the word ‘challenge’ really means.

KEY STAGE 2 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

FS AND KEY STAGE 1 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Sacha Seddon, FS1

Grandma Bird by Benji Davies. Noi goes off to stay for a holiday with his Grandma. Whilst exploring, he meets a new friend and they have an adventurous trip home. I love the big and exciting adventure they go on!

Fira, 5C

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan. Ana’s parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family she has left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. When she goes for a class trial at sea, she finds out the truth behind her parents’ death. They were actually on a quest and she is very important because of her DNA. Want to find out more?

Tate, 5C

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein. Frodo is a young hobbit who has to protect a very special ring. It is a powerful object which holds with the dark magic of Mordor. To destroy the ring, he must venture to the cracks of doom and throw it in while evil hunts them. Will the ring overcome him? Or is going to be killed by the enemies? Read this exciting book to find out (it is one of the greatest books).

Zaia, 5C

A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer. When a girl called Brystal Evergreen stumbles upon a hidden part of the library, little does she know her life will be changed forever. She realises she is capable of magic but lives in a world where women are not allowed to read, and magic is illegal. Will Brystal discover who she really is? Will Brystal choose her heart over the world? Read this book to find out! This story is full of magic and imagination so read it if you enjoy good fantasy books.

Curious if we have any of these books available in our libraries? Search online here, or contact our library staff here.

KEY STAGE 3 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

be trusted. You will not be able to put this book down when you begin it as the cliff hangers and plot twists are amazing page turners. Read to explore the strange new happenings that keep occurring within the Wells and Wong Detective Society series and Deapdean’s School for Girls. This book is suited for ages 10-14.

KEY STAGE 4 AND 5 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Mimi Maleenont, 8S

Keeper of the Lost Cities, Book #1 by Shannon Messenger. Perfect for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans, Keeper of the Lost Cities immaculately encapsulates the theme of friendship, determination, and trust. Shannon Messenger brews a magical concoction of fantasy, ethereal creatures, and wondrous settings. Sofie Foster knew she never belonged in our society. She is a brilliant, 12-year-old girl, who is, miraculously, a telepath (one who can read minds). When she meets Fitz, her world flips upside down. She is transported into a new world, one of magic, gadgets, supernatural abilities, mythical creatures and celestial people. As she discovers herself and her powers, she encounters new people, problems and adventures. I recommend this book to ages 11 and up. I hope you like secrets and cliff-hangers and get ready for a soul-stirring roller coaster!

The Mysterious Benedict Society, Book #1 by Trenton Lee Stewart. A newspaper advertisement appears in a newspaper one day and draws many young, brilliant children to enrol in a test. The odds of success are low. Four ingenious children are chosen for a secret, dangerous mission that the cleverest, most quick witted and amazingly ambitious can complete. They must outsmart Mr Ledroptha Curtain who plans to control people’s minds through subconscious messages and use it for malicious desires. Would you like to test your wit alongside these children and embark on a perilous, perplexing adventure?

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Enter the world of mystery, plot twists, and red herrings. It is 1934 in England and two young detectives Daisy and Hazel are investigating a peculiar case of the murder of Miss Bell. Go down a rabbit hole as they track down suspects and motives and learn that not all can

Shiksha Srivastava, 11S

The Sun is a Compass by Caroline Van Hemert. This book is about Caroline and her husband embarking on a 4,000-mile journey from the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, facing numerous challenges and dangers, whilst also experiencing remarkable moments. Having started to feel stifled by working in a laboratory and fearing she is losing her true passions, Caroline rediscovers her love for scientific inquiry.

Mr Nason, Secondary English Teacher

Shogun by James Clavell. Though I’ve not read it in about 20 years, James Clavell’s ‘Shogun’ stands out in my memory. It was a book that helped me fall in love with reading, a huge epic saga about a European sailor who, after a shipwreck washes ashore in Feudal Japan. It’s a tale of East meets West, of samurai and ninjas, of warfare and diplomacy. Maybe it’s time for a re-read this summer!

Happy Summer Reading!

How to Be a SuStainaBle touriSt

Ana Bolakoso, SEC Key Stage 3 Representative

Tourism is an important industry that contributes significantly to the economy of many countries. In 2019, Thailand welcomed 39.8 million international tourists generating an income of 1.9 trillion baht. Tourism in Thailand supports approximately 20% of jobs making it vital income. However, it is also one of the industries that have a significant impact on the environment. As more and more people travel to different parts of the world, the environment is put under more pressure. In this article, we will explore the effects of tourism on the environment and provide some tips for being a more sustainable tourist.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TOURISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT?

1. Carbon Footprint: Travelling by air or driving long distances releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change.

2. Waste Generation: Tourism generates a large amount of waste, including food waste, plastic and other materials that end up in landfills.

3. Water Consumption: The tourism industry uses a lot of water, especially in areas where water is scarce. This can lead to water shortages and damage to local ecosystems.

4. Land Use: The development of hotels, resorts and other tourist infrastructure can lead to the destruction of natural habitats, such as forests and wetlands.

5. Wildlife: Tourists may disrupt the natural behaviour of wildlife by getting too close, destroying native flora and fauna or feeding animals, which can harm the natural biodiversity.

DESPITE THIS, THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS WE CAN BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WHILE TOURING THIS HOLIDAYS:

1. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Try to travel by train, bus, or other forms of public transportation whenever possible. If you must fly, choose airlines that have a strong commitment to sustainability.

2. Minimise Your Waste: Bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and shopping bag with you on your

travels. Avoid single-use plastics and dispose of waste properly.

3. Conserve Water: Be mindful of your water use, especially in areas where water is insufficient. Take shorter showers, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and reuse towels.

4. Support Local Businesses: Choose to eat at local restaurants, stay in locally-owned hotels or homestays and buy souvenirs from local artisans. This supports the local economy, reduces pollution from exported goods and helps to preserve cultural traditions.

5. Respect the Environment: Stay on designated trails, don’t disturb wildlife and follow the rules and regulations of national parks and other protected areas. Also, if you plan to visit the beach make sure to leave shells and corals instead of taking them.

If you are looking for a sustainable getaway within Thailand, a place I highly recommend is Elephant View Camp, Phetchaburi. A glamping experience connected to a wildlife sanctuary filled with elephants and swinging monkeys. These animals were rescued from harsh, inhumane conditions and now are free roaming among acres of land. The camp itself does not use single use plastic and respects the animals.

As we enter the start of our Summer Break we have a responsibility to be mindful of our impact on the environment when we travel. By following these tips, we can help to preserve the planet’s natural beauty and ensure that future generations can enjoy it as well.

our Very own gloBal recycling Hero!

Helen

Thew,

Cross Campus Principal, SEC Committee

Each year on Global Recycling Day (18th March), the Global Recycling Foundation honours ten Global Recycling Heroes. These individuals, places and activities highlight the positive impact that recycling contributes to the environment and in creating a greener future for all.

This year, I am delighted to announce that our SEC Secretary Tanat (Johnny) Tungsubutra was awarded the Global Recycling Hero Award 2023! He believes in making a sustainable world by taking action. At school, he has launched school-wide environmental initiatives including the Bangkok Patana Recycling

Pledge and the ‘no idling’ policy for cars to reduce air pollution on campus. Outside school, he works with the People Protecting the Environment Foundation in Suphanburi province to develop and promote sustainable alternatives to rice burning in rural Thai farming communities. Incredible!

To read more about his inspiring rice farming project, click here

Many congratulations, Johnny!

P.S. To say your “well done” to Johnny, please kindly take the Patana Recycling Pledge!

GYMNASTICS ACADEMY

The Gymnastics Academy’s coaches are available to book for private gymnastics lessons throughout the school’s summer holiday. If you’re interested in arranging a private lesson, please email Coach Wah at sibu@patana.ac.th stating your preferred day(s) and time(s).

Foundation Board updates

DONORS’ EVENT

TheDonors’ event is held every year in Term 3 to thank those parents who have donated to the Building Patana Fund during the current academic year, joined by members of the Foundation Board and Senior Staff. It was a delight for them to enjoy the newly renovated space in Humanities as many had not been to that part of campus before. It was also a nice opportunity to hear from Mr Mills and wish him farewell. The Building Patana Fund supports infrastructure development around the school – click here for more information

BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS UPDATE

The Foundation Board held a full meeting in April 2023, with a busy agenda including the approval of the school’s 2023/24 budget and school fees. A copy of Board meeting minutes is held in the Secondary Library for members of the

Bangkok Patana community to view. Please contact Library staff to make an appointment.

The Foundation Board members are volunteers and we have a regular turnover. In 2023, Khun Piyavit Chiangpradit completed his service on the Buildings and Grounds Sub-Committee and we would like to thank him for lending his time and expertise. The Board would also like to welcome the following people who joined in 2023: Khun Natcha Seehabutre (Finance Sub-Committee) and Khun Sukhumarn Polcharoen (Finance Sub-Committee). A big thank you to our Board members and Committee and Sub-Committee members for guiding the school in 2022/23.

The Foundation Board bids a fond farewell to Mr Mills, with heartfelt appreciation for his long service at Bangkok Patana School for the past 15 years.

PTG

The PTG recently had the pleasure to meet with some of the Six Day Staff to thank them for all their help throughout this academic year.

PTG gladly contributed THB 20,000 as a token of gratitude, we wouldn't have done without you!

annie’s LittLe Free Library

Yawei (Annie) Shen, 5D

Hi!My name is Annie and I am in Year 5. I am making a Little Free Library for Grapondaeng School, which is supported by the Primary School Council. My motivation for this project comes from my passion in ensuring that everyone has equal access to quality books and education.

What Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) does this project support?

Target for SDG 1, No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

After COVID-19, progress towards poverty reduction has been lost due to people losing jobs, money and not being able to help their families.

Target for SDG 4, Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Many children around the world do not have access to formal education and lack proper educational resources.

What is a Little Free Library?

A Little Free Library is a miniature library that is made from wood and placed in a public location. People can exchange books by leaving books for others to read and/or selecting a book to take for themselves. Even though it is small, it can still hold lots of books. Students can benefit from the Little Free Library by accessing books that will help them to learn different languages and other interesting subjects by reading the books inside. Little Free Libraries also encourage people to return the books they have taken in order to ensure that it remains stocked with interesting options for others to choose from. This means that the type of the books will change and vary all the time.

What is the importance of reading, books, and literature?

Reading improves your focus, memory, empathy and communication skills. It can also reduce stress, improve your mental health and

help you live longer. This is why I believe that everyone should have equal access to books and literature.

Do all children attend school in Thailand?

Sadly, around 670,000 children don’t go to school in Thailand. Many Thai children go to Primary school, but not Secondary school. The largest proportion of children not in school are from disadvantaged communities, migrant families or are children living with a disability. In 2021, Thailand’s literacy rate was 94.10%. For reference, China’s rate was 99.83 and India’s rate 77.70.

Why am I passionate about helping Grapondaeng School?

I would like to help Grapondaeng School because many people, children in particular, don’t have access to education or/and books. I think it is vitally important to help provide children with access to books, as they can create warm emotional bonds between people when they read and share together. Books also help children to develop basic language skills and profoundly expand their vocabulary.

My Project

I set out to design and build my own Little Free Library. Once I had decided on a design, I had to measure, saw, nail and glue it together. I was then able to paint it and add my design.

What can the Bangkok Patana Community do to help?

The Bangkok Patana Community can help by donating books to the Little Free Library. Please send both English and Thai books in the box in the Year 5 shared area labelled Book Donations for Grapondaeng School. The books don’t need to be new, but have to be in good condition. I will then send the Little Free Library and donated books to Grapondaeng School.

Primary Pe signs oFF in styLe

Andrew Tatam, Leader of Learning, Physical Education

Wheredoes one begin as we approach the final events of our action packed and first full academic calendar year for a while? Let’s start with some great stats: every child from Foundation Stage 2 to Year 6 has enjoyed at least two sporting events with Foundation Stage 2 and Key Stage 1 enjoying Sports Days and Swimming Galas while our Key Stage 2 students will have all enjoyed five Interclass events during the year. Add into this the many ECAs that have been available, and we have certainly been promoting an active lifestyle for our young charges. In PE classes alone, our Key Stage 1 students have enjoyed two hours of PE per week plus one hour of swimming, which compares very well with other Key Stage 1 students anywhere in the world where our physical literacy foundations are being sturdily built. Our Key Stage 2 students also enjoy two hours a week across the year and we were delighted to be able to offer our Year 6 students two whole units of choice which was very well received.

In addition to the many things to follow that have been led by us, our students have been fortunate to have opportunities through our Academies in football, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and dance with all of the events available through these.

The Primary PE Team have led our BMAC Seasons in the following Sports and have been delighted to welcome great participation numbers along the way as well as achieving some memorable results.

SEASON 1

BMAC Cross Country – 31 Boys’ and 23 Girls’ teams participated. Team Champions.

SEASON 2

BMAC Basketball – Three Boys’ teams and Runners

Up in the Cup

BMAC Basketball – Four Girls’ teams and 3rd in the Cup

BMAC CoEd Track and Field – 34 athletes and Champions of the Cup

SEASON 3

BMAC CoEd Touch Rugby – Three teams and Champions of the Cup

BMAC Badminton – Nine boys and 3rd in the Cup

BMAC Badminton 10 girls and 5th in the Cup

SEASON 4

BMAC CoEd Tee Ball – Six teams and Champions of the Cup

BMAC CoEd Volleyball – Five teams and Champions of the Cup

PRIMARY FOBISIA GAMES

We were delighted to return to the Primary FOBISIA Games after a long absence and although a little harder to get organised than usual as students and families were out of traditional loop on how everything worked we still had healthy numbers trying out for our team. After a tough selection process we were delighted to take a full team of 40 students, made of 10 boys and 10 girls

from Year 5 and the same from Year 6. The students really did rise to the occasion with very please results across all of the four sports involved. Please do watch the video or look at the photos linked below to get a flavour of the event.

Photos - Yellow Group

Gala Dinner Video - Yellow Group

Our results were excellent out of the seven participating schools from seven different Asian countries;

Swimming = Overall Champions

Athletics = Overall Champions

Tee Ball = 1 x 1st, 1 x 2nd and 2 x 3rd places from our four Mixed Teams.

Football = 2 x 1st Place for our Boys and Girls A Teams and a 2nd and 4th for our B Teams.

Do look out for information from Ms Alice when we return for how the selection process for next years Games will work.

To finish off our crazy final few weeks we are heavily involved in the Bangkok Games which is being held for only the 2nd time this week involving 10 x British Schools from across Bangkok.

We are enjoying the more festival atmosphere of these Games and are delighted to have been able to enter multiple students and teams in Basketball, Football, Tennis, Athletics, Touch Rugby and Netball.

Hopefully all of the students involved in all of our curriculum lessons and events as well as our Extra-curricular teams and ECAs have enjoyed their experience and opportunities as I know that all of our marvellous PE Team have along the way.

Wishing everyone a restful but active holiday!

DeveLoPment oF the goLF Programme

John Clare, Secondary Design +

Technology Teacher

TheGolf Programme at Bangkok Patana School has witnessed a year filled with triumphs, growth and exciting competitions. From participating in ISGT events throughout the year to the selected few who got to showcase their talents at the FOBISIA tournament in March. In only my first year here at Bangkok Patana, it has been a pleasure spending time with players at practice facilities and on the golf course.

In the numerous ISGT (International Schools Golf Tour) events, players have represented the school with commendable effort and sportsmanship. These tournaments have been held at some of the most prestigious courses in and around Bangkok, Chonburi and Hua Hin. The tournaments have given the students an opportunity to compete, regardless of their ability, experience or handicaps. We believe that providing students with opportunities to compete against talented golfers will help them grow and gain experience of how the game is played at a professional level. We encourage players to regularly participate in these events to help foster a competitive spirit and enhance the players’ ability to handle pressure in a tournament setting, regardless of the result.

In March, the golf coaches selected Varsity team players to participate at the FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) tournament, across a two-day stroke play event. The players represented the

school with pride and upheld their representation as excellent golfers able to compete on multiple stages. The FOBISIA tournament not only served as a platform to exhibit their golfing abilities but also as an opportunity to forge lasting friendships with peers from other international schools.

In the final week of the ECA and Golf Programme, we brought together students from different levels of proficiency, encouraging golfers of all ability levels to participate against one another and develop a sense of unity within the golfing community here at Bangkok Patana. The two-ball scramble format provided an exciting and competitive atmosphere, challenging the students to showcase their teamwork and strategic thinking. In what was a fitting tribute to our only team member from Year 13, the first place prize went to Tanarawin (Win) Viravan and Sra (JJ) Anuras. We wish Win farewell and good luck in his future endeavours in golf.

Beyond the tournament victories and competitive experiences, the Golf Programme at Bangkok Patana School has consistently focused on personal growth and skill development. The programme’s emphasis on providing an opportunity for the students to play and compete in various ways has helped to develop their discipline, perseverance and clarity on the golf course, and has helped shape the students into well-rounded individuals.

Hui Ying (Ying Ying) Han, 6B

It’s almost the end of year six and next year I’ll be starting Secondary! As I look back on my last year of Primary, it is with pleasure from all the fun, laughter and excitement we have had. I participated in interschool competitions and was even lucky enough to go on a sports trip to Chonburi with my friends!

One of the things I was definitely ecstatic about was Residential. Can you even imagine not having Resi in your last year of Primary School? I couldn’t either, so I was relieved and excited when they announced that this year we would get to go on Resi! I shared a room with my best friends and we enjoyed the five days filled with daytime activities and midnight snacks.

I learned the most from the FOBISIA Maths competition, where my team and I participated in maths races, quizzes and buzzer rounds. It opened my eyes to all the different types of maths there are and how some of them are really interesting! It was also my first big competition with a team and it taught me how to work with other people and use our strengths and talents to our advantage.

The place where I made the most friends was for sure FOBISIA Primary Games. The games gave me the opportunity to get to know many people at Bangkok

Patana better and it turns out that lots of them were really funny and could make us laugh. I talked to lots of new people and strengthened my bonds with some of my best friends. My favourite memory at the FOBISIA Primary Games was in football when all the girls from different schools formed a dance line and did the macarena dance together. Even though we were in different teams and competing against each other, we still danced, had fun together and it really lightened the atmosphere!

The FOBISIA Primary Games was also a competition where everyone cheered each other on, whether we won or lost races. In the end, we did win a lot of trophies. It was a nice finishing touch, but for me, the real trophy was the memories, the experience and all the friendships formed.

And to end the year, we will have an awesome party to celebrate. We will all bring in our memory books for our friends to sign so that we can look back and remember everyone and everything in our Primary life.

I’m very thankful for all my teachers, sport coaches and my parents for making my last year in Primary so amazing. I’ll treasure all the memories made and I’m ready to make even more memories in Secondary!

sPorts awarDs 2022/23

Richard Molloy, Cross Campus Head of Sports

TheBangkok Patana Tigers have had another stellar year in 2022/23 as they have excelled across the BMAC, FOBISIA and SEASAC Conferences. It has been so refreshing to see a full year of sport back on the calendar, without the need for masks and enabling more than 1,000 students to 'pull on the paw' and represent Bangkok Patana in fixtures. Following each season, a small number of awards are given to students who have made a particular impact in their seasonal or yearlong team and we are delighted to share these students today. The awards are; MVP for the Most Valuable Player, usually given to the player who has impacted the success of the team in a big way, MIP for the Most Improved Player, for players who have made significant performance development across the season or year and Tiger Spirit, for the student who embodies the qualities of a Bangkok Patana student representing the Tigers.

Congratulations to all the students involved in a team this year, it has been a busy year of sport and we look forward to seeing everyone back on the fields and courts, in the gym and the pool, and representing the Tigers in 2023/24.

CeLebrating our weLL-being ProjeCts

Jordan Taylor, Secondary English Teacher

Thisterm, Secondary students have been busy completing a variety of projects as part of our well-being curriculum. From designing books to mapping out walks, students have been developing their understanding of their own well-being while collaborating in their tutor groups. These projects built upon our regular Well-being Toolkit sessions, providing opportunities to explore how to look after ourselves and the world around us.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

In Year 7, students completed a short project to celebrate our wonderful diversity. By investigating the value of our differences, students explored how everyone’s unique qualities can help make our communities stronger and richer. The project culminated in each tutor group producing artwork that symbolised and celebrated the diversity in their tutor group.

WELL-BEING WALKS

Meanwhile, Year 9 students designed well-being walks around our beautiful Secondary School. Their brief was clear: create a mindful walk that would allow people to find a moment of calmness during the day. Their final guided walks celebrated the natural setting of our campus and were supported by well-planned mindfulness exercises. When you are next on campus, why not follow the route and activities provided by the winning walk from Sebastian Schrader, Teppei Koike and Darsh Rawat, 9L? You can view their walk in more detail above.

GETTING HANDS ON

In Year 10, students explored various aspects of their well-being with some help from plasticine models. With a range of hands-on activities, they used their models to delve further into topics such as their identity, physical and mental well-being, self-care habits, sense of belonging, and impact on the world. By engaging in discussions and even creating some stop animation movies, students were given the chance to gain valuable insights and enjoy open conversations about well-being.

CRAFTING WELL-BEING BOOKS

Year 8 students became writers and designers as they took on the challenge of creating illustrated books for younger readers. Responding to feedback from Year 6 students, their well-being books celebrated the importance of friendships, showing how valuable people can be to our well-being when we are kind, grateful and accepting of people’s differences. Some of the most engaging and creative books will be joining our Bangkok Patana Library collection soon. Well done to ‘Nacho Friend’ (by Kate Madden, Aithy Leeswadtrakul, Mila Chakrabandhu and Emily Jones, 8J), ‘Kelvin’s Story’ (Naomi Alpern, Khudeja Irfan and Anna Cargill, 8J), and ‘The Lonely Banana’ (by Varsha Dahiya and Annie Xu, 8D)!

We would like to thank all our tutors and support tutors for their continued work in delivering the Well-being Toolkit sessions and leading this term’s projects with their tutor groups. They have helped to engage their tutees in these projects, fostering a sense of community and belonging along the way.

PTG

Patana ParTiciPaTes!

Achievements from Our Community

Piano Awards

Tara Thanatcha Tanompongphandh, 1F won First Place in the final round of Yamaha Thailand Music Festival 2023 for Piano Solo Category (under 7 years old) held at Prince Mahidol Hall, Mahidol University, Salaya. YTMF is a national music competition held every year since 1947.

As a sole first prize winner, Tara was awarded the Winner’s Trophy from Princess Bajrakitiyabha and a scholarship of THB 10,000. In this category, there were a total of approximately a hundred contestants from all provinces of Thailand in which the finalists are selected from a regional round held in December 2022. Tara played theme and variations on a folk tune called “Honeybee March”. You can find a link to her performance in the final round here https://youtu.be/_ nJeFHkjQoM

FOBISIA Poetry Competition

Tara and her brother, Thanakrit Punn Tanompongphandh, 4H both won the Brilliant Prize from the 7th Brilliant Talent Discovery Award International Music Competition and were both invited to perform in Singapore at the Esplanade, Theaters on the Bay (Recital Hall) along with 17 other outstanding musicians from all over the world. Punn performed Moskowski’s Tarantella in D minor Op. 66 while Tara performed Clementi’s Sonatina in C major Op.36 (I. Allegro, III. Vivace).

There performances were professionally recorded and posted on these YouTube links.

Punn: https://youtu.be/p0KOkc3nm_Y

Tara: https://youtu.be/q0uETlk4Hek

WilliamMarsh’s poem won the Bangkok Patana School Year 6 Poetry Competition and received incredibly positive feedback from the judges. William has also faired very well in the FOBISIA Poetry Competition. Congratulations to William as the author, and 6F for bringing it to life during the Poetry Competition. Here is some feedback here from the FOBISIA Competition judge:

Patana ParTiciPaTes!

Achievements from Our Community

Youth Wildlife Projects

CLAIRE:

From my experience with the Youth Wildlife guardian project, I made a documentary about whale sharks, approaching this project through the underwater perspective, therefore I also got the chance to discover and learn more about marine life along the way. Throughout this journey, I also developed a passion: underwater photography. With every dive that I go on, I would always bring my underwater camera to capture the underwater world. After collecting enough videos, photos, and knowledge to form a documentary, which took about two whole years to complete, we had the opportunity to present our work on 5th June, to many organisations such as WWF (world wildlife funds), The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, representatives from the German Embassy, representatives from the Thai Royal Navy and so many more important organisations that plays a huge part in raising awareness and conserving the environment. After this amazing event, our journey still has not come to an end. Continuing from this, we will be consistently traveling to different places throughout Thailand’s provinces to educate the younger generations as we believe that local involvement is one of the most important factors. We will be educating the people with the Environmental Education Mobile, which is a huge van equipped with 15 VR headsets where our documentary would be viewed from for educational purposes. Additionally, we will also help with collecting old fishing equipment, restoring seagrass meadows, replanting corals and many other activities that will benefit our environment. As a result, I hope that our involvement will leave a long lasting impact on our environment.

TRISTAN:

Two and a half years ago, an opportunity was presented to me by the Youth Wildlife Guardians and Dr Alongkot Chukaew to create a documentary about a topic of my choice. Of course, I chose mangrove birds as one of my hobbies I had developed during the COVID lockdown was birdwatching. We went on a few camps together first to get used to the production elements and make friends with each other. After that, finally we started with our filming. We headed out on trips for everyone to fund their animals and collect footage, and it was pretty fun, just most of the time I stayed back after the others returned to Bangkok to photograph birds with a few others who were also interested. (We all like animals and we would be happy seeing anything, even a uniquely colored pigeon).

After I had collected a sufficient amount of footage, I managed to write a script and finish my voiceover and also got it edited and published in time for world environmental day on 5th June. That wasn't the end of the journey though, as on that day we headed to the Amari Watergate and presented our documentaries and introduced our future plans to many important audience members and many news channels such as BBC and many more. I think it was pretty successful overall and I hope we made an impact and did our part for the environment. The best part was that I met many people who loved animals just as much as me, and I hope I meet more people like them in the future.

Patana uniteD

Laura MacRitchie, Curriculum Leader, Music

Patana United was a fantastic opportunity for Key Stage 3 students to showcase their musical skills that have been developed over the last academic year. The Concert Bands and String Ensembles performed in the first half. Each Year Group then selected two pieces to perform. This was followed by the Thai, Guitar and Vocal Ensembles in the second half.

Students were very excited to watch their peers and it was wonderful to see the progression from Year Group to Year Group.

“Patana united is something I will NOT likely forget very soon. From walking out onto that stage to finishing and looking out into a cheering crowd, blinded by the stage light, the feeling of performing is something I am glad I got to experience at least once in my school life. It was also not just about me and my ensemble performing but seeing younger

students who play the same instrument as me, performing, and me wanting to be role models for them as well. I was so nervous to do it and of course I made mistakes in the performance but I am overall really proud I had the strength to even walk up on stage in front of hundreds of people in the audience. As I am in Year 9, I never got to do a Patana united performance in Year 7 and 8, due to the pandemic, so I only got to do this once, but it will stay a learning experience as I go into Key Stage 4 and later on Key Stage 5.” – Elena Burton, Year 9

“I love performing on stage. It gives me the chance to show my efforts in music and talent, and performing in a concert is always an exciting and entertaining experience. Playing on the euphonium was a different experience to playing guitar, singing, or anything else and being a part of a concert band is such a unique and different feeling to any other things I've ever worked on.” – Daniel

Ferguson, Year 7

Key stage 3 magazine - CLiCK to reaD!

LIBRARIES’ SURVEY RESULTS

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! Bangkok Community Theatre is staging a Christmas Panto of Cinderella in December 2023, directed by Ian Robinson. We need your help for the production team, including set design, costume design, choreographer, stage manager and more! Even if you’re new or have only a little experience with the behind the scenes work of theatre, BCT is the place for you to grow and gain hands on experience. We will guide you along the way!

If you think your talents could be of use to support bringing this fairy tale comedy come to life, please contact us at cinderella@bangkokcommunitytheatre.com

BCT is committed to bringing theatre opportunities to you, but community theatre runs on volunteers like yourself. Get in touch with us today!