Patana News Volume 26 Issue 1

Welcome back to school everybody!

I arrived in Thailand with thirty-five new academic staff and we are looking forward to ensuring all of our community have the best experience we can give.

Students are breathing life into the buildings with their energy and enthusiasm; it’s great to see their excitement discovering changes which have happened during the summer. Our sincere thanks to the Buildings and Grounds team for all the summer works that have been undertaken. The campus looks stunning!

I won’t spend long telling you about me as there are podcasts, assemblies and coffee mornings when you can connect and find out more. Instead, let’s consider what we value most: our well-being. Everyone is facing a new journey in some way as school begins. Whether it’s arriving in Thailand or Bangkok for the first time, returning to school but entering into a different phase, embarking on a new subject or developing and creating friendships with new arrivals. The beginning of this new journey can be exhilarating and daunting; knowing how to meet these feelings worthy of reflection.

“What if I get lost?” might be telling us that we are fearful of the unknown. Tell yourself that everybody gets lost at the beginning but hardly anyone remains lost for long periods of time. The very feeling of being lost will be keeping you alert to what we need to notice for getting to our destination the next time.

“What if I ask a silly question?” is a fear that people will think less of us in social situations, and we are comparing ourselves to others. Embrace the idea that we are all doing our best and that may look different for each of us. Embrace your perfect imperfections because the world would be far less interesting if people stopped wanting to discover things. Asking questions is about creating small stepping-stones to success so that you can keep moving forward.

“They’ll soon find out I am not that good at things” is a fear that we may not belong in the new group or situation we find our -

Foundation Stage Playground Year 1/2 Playground

Year 3/4 Playground

Primary Snack Bar

Primary Library School Shop

selves. The truth is, everybody in the room with you is in a new situation because each moment we have together is a first. Meet this thinking with affirmations and reminders of what you do bring to the party from your past achievements. Showing your vulnerability to others brings authenticity and draws kind people towards you, the friendship will just keep flowing.

“I already made a mistake today” often comes from a fear of disappointing yourself or others. Reframe each mistake as learning because it really is. Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Each setback is a brick in the foundation of your success. Brilliance is about failing over and over again, in everything we do.

pose is the real definition of a successful family unit. At times, you may need to think out loud for your children and remind them of their worth when fears overwhelm.

Amid the worries, don’t forget to celebrate each tiny milestone along the way. For students, I wanted to remind you that starting anew may be challenging, but it’s also where the magic happens. The worries you feel in your body and the thoughts that accompany them in your head are not lasting reality. Each worry that arrives is pushing you forward to embrace the thrill of something new and to learn well. Of course, if it becomes unmanageable, your teachers and counsellors are here to help you work that one through.

For parents, giving our children unconditional love, confidence to be who they are and to support them in finding their pur -

No destination was ever reached without a start. You have what it takes and are good enough to belong and achieve your personal best from just being you and just being here now. Wishing you courage, resilience and discovering good friendship on your exciting adventures in the year ahead! Usain Bolt said it much more succinctly than me...

Warm regards,

Chris Sammons Head of School

IB Results: GRad ’23

Andrew Roff, Senior Teacher - IB Coordinator

While the rest of the world returned to “pre-COVID” examination results, our Grad ‘23 students bucked the trend, achieving scores in the IB Diploma and IB Courses which can only be described as phenomenal!

This was a particularly able Year group of students, who worked incredibly hard and have very pleasingly been rewarded for their efforts with an average IB Diploma score of 37 points out of a possible 45. This is a full 7 points higher than the world average, which returned to 30 points this year after three years where the score was inflated by the International Baccalaureate Organisation’s pandemic mitigations.

Such a high average score points to some outstanding individual performances including 29% of our cohort of 125 students achieving 40 points or more, set against a global statistic of 9%!

As a non-selective school we are extremely proud of our results, our students and the wonderful support network of teachers and families that have enabled them to perform so well.

Grad ’23 average IB Diploma score (out of a possible 45).

This is a full 7 points higher than the world average!

Percentage of Grad ’23 cohort that achieved an IB Diploma score of 40 points or higher.

The world average of students who scored 40 points or higher was 9% in 2023.

Patana ParticiPates!

Achievements from Our Community

Anisa (Panna) Ngamtrakulpanit,

11S

Thissummer, I had the unique opportunity to volunteer at the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre located to the north of Kanchanaburi. This centre is dedicated in memory of those who worked on the Thai-Burma railway during World War 2.

After visiting the Centre during my Year 8 Residential, I felt intrigued to learn more about the significance of the area and the hardship that the working POWs and laborers had to face. When the opportunity arose, I did not hesitate to join the team there. Everyone was welcoming and taught me new, life-changing skills.

During my time there I was able to learn and develop many new skills, such as being independent, organised and working in a team. Having the opportunity to spend time with others that work there further allowed me to appreciate the hard work that goes into the operation of the Centre.

Not only did I have a chance to develop my lifelong skills, but to also learn more about the work environment and the interesting details about the railway itself. Spending time there was truly rewarding to me and I wish to go back again soon.

FOBISIA D&T Tree House Competition

Congratulationsto three Year 5 (2022/23) students who were awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for their Year group category in the recent FOBISIA D&T Tree House Competition!

There were a total of 23 schools registered in this year’s event, which asked students to design an educational space, inspired by the SDGs, that could help to encourage better learning about sustainable living and the value of protecting the environment. Learn more about the competition here!

enGlIsh Faculty Summer Selfie Challenge

Lindsay Tyrrell, Senior Studies Curriculum Leader, English

Thissummer, Secondary English teachers set a challenge to take selfies in places of literary or artistic interest while they were on their holidays…

Mrs Tyrrell enjoyed spending a day in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, with her family. There they visited William Shakespeare’s birthplace and final resting place.

Mrs Fielding travelled to Rome and visited the grave of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, author of the (I) GCSE poem Ozymandias and husband to Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein

Mrs Corker stayed in Thailand and visited Koh Samet, the setting of Sunthorn Phu’s epic poem, ‘Phra Aphai Mani’. Statues of the poem’s characters can be found around the island, including the giant ogress who traps and bewitches Aphai.

Mr Nason spent much of the summer traveling around the UK visiting friends and family. In Deptford, he paid his respects at the grave of Christopher Marlowe, one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the playwright of such classics as Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine.

In Edinburgh, Ms Blackman visited the graveyard that inspired elements of JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ series, such as the character names Potter, McGonagall and Tom Riddle, as well as the school which Hogwarts is based on.

When visiting family in Sussex, Mr Taylor took a stroll in the former gardens of Rudyard Kipling who penned such classics as ‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘Kim’.

Miss Marshall spent time in Ireland and visited the grave of Seamus Heaney. Heaney won the Nobel Prize for literature and explored themes of memory, change and loss in his poetry. Many of our students will have studied his poem ‘Mid-Term Break’.

Mrs Sloane spent some time visiting family in Suffolk and went to Bury St Edmunds for the day, finding where Charles Dickens stayed and set some of his novel, The Pickwick Papers. The abbey (situated opposite the hotel) features in Shakespeare’s play Henry VI, Part II.

Mr Sutcliffe was in Dublin, Ireland and spent a lot of time exploring the city's rich literary heritage. Dublin is famous for having produced writers like James Joyce and George Bernard Shaw. Here, Mr Sutcliffe is pictured outside the house of his favourite Irish writer, Oscar Wilde, the famous author of the Picture of Dorian Gray.

Ms Ghogar visited England's The Lake District where she visited the home and countryside of children's author Beatrix Potter, which inspired the beloved 'Tales of Peter Rabbit.' At the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere, Ms. Ghogar also joined an inspiring nature poetry writing workshop at Dove Cottage where William Wordsworth lived.

YeaR 12 InductIon

Sam Stuart, Head of Year 12

It was great to welcome back Year 12 after a long summer holiday for their Induction. There was definitely a positive buzz in Senior Studies as the students reconnected with friends, chatted to tutors, had the opportunity to start thinking about the challenges and opportunities ahead and tested out the new vending machine! Students were welcomed to Senior Studies by Mr Sammons and Mr Seddon, given an overview of the IB Diploma course by Mr Roff and also heard from the Careers and Universities and Social and Emotional Counselling teams. It was also great to hear from some of the Senior Delegates who shared some very useful advice about self-management, prioritising workload and achieving a good work-life balance. A big thank you goes to all the Year 12 Helping Hands and other friendly faces who made sure our new students felt welcomed and settled on their first day!

Grad ’19 alum ScoreS leadInG role

Alumni, Development and Marketing Department

Andrea Gatchalian (Grad ’19) recently graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London in 2022 and has scored the leading role of Mia in the theatrical production Ikaria.

The show will begin its tour in York before visiting Mold, Stafford, Guildford, Belfast, Whitley Bay and London.

A brief synopsis of the production is provided below:

Strikingly moving, Ikaria is an illustration of how we can find salvation in someone else: After taking a year out, Simon (James Wilbraham) has returned to university, determined to get on with his finals and not slip back into old, destructive habits. Mia (Andrea Gatchalian), a first-year, is embracing the explosive freedom of life away from home. While seemingly from different worlds, the two easily slide into a relationship, spending every night together in Simon’s messy dorm room, staying up later and later, not going out, and skipping tutorials. Mia is initially happy to sink into Simon’s nocturnal habit of living, until she begins to question whether this makes her happy – and whether it makes Simon happy as well.

aI and clImate chanGe: a hopeFul Future

Ana Bolakoso, SEC Key Stage 3 Representative

Imagine the year 2040… a time when our world has transitioned from struggling against climate change to proactively defeating it. As a resident of Bangkok, a city grappling with rising sea levels and erratic weather patterns, I’m inspired by the vital role that AI has assumed in reshaping our future. AI has evolved into an unexpected yet essential ally.

The rainforests of Thailand, vital lungs of our planet, have long been vulnerable to deforestation. However, AI has become the unsung hero, utilising its remarkable capacity to analyse datasets. Equipped with AI algorithms, drones now soar above our canopy, detecting instances of illegal logging and promptly alerting authorities. AI has been put to use by food scientists and now there is no need to harvest palm oil as we have viable alternatives. Habitats and biodiversity are recovering.

flooding or drought, enabling us to take preventative measures.

Now, let’s delve into Bangkok’s infamous traffic congestion. Thanks to AI, our transport systems have undergone a dazzling transformation. Intelligent traffic management systems, underpinned by AI, predict traffic flows, optimise traffic light timing and even deploy self-driving electric vehicles to alleviate congestion whilst reducing emissions.

Speaking of emissions, AI is now being used extensively in the energy sector. The radiant Thai sun is now a powerhouse. Solar panels appear on almost every rooftop, harnessing sunlight to energise our homes and businesses. Long gone are the tangled mess of power lines. AI’s talent for recognising patterns has elevated energy generation, fine-tuning solar array operations for maximal efficiency. This partnership between AI and sunlight promises a brighter, cleaner future.

Water scarcity has also met its match in AI. Frequent floods and droughts have been an enduring challenge for Thailand. Yet, AI predictive models forewarn us of potential water-related events. By studying historical weather records, soil moisture levels and river conditions, AI forecasts regions susceptible to

Let’s not forget our underwater friends as AI extends its influence beneath the waves. Aquatic drones, with AI capabilities, patrol our oceans, guarding coral reefs, marine life and water quality. This collaborative endeavour tackles issues like coral bleaching and overfishing, nurturing our marine ecosystems for generations to come. These same drones have helped us learn more about the unknown regions of our oceans.

In the crusade against single-use plastic, AI emerges as a powerful ally. Through its data-crunching powers, AI identifies patterns in consumption, aiding in the design of eco-friendly alternatives. Smart recycling systems guided by AI enhance collection efficiency, while machine learning optimises waste management strategies. This paves the way to free the planet from plastic’s grip.

AI offers hope to some of our biggest challenges, as stewards of our environment we can use this tool to magnify our “small steps” on a large scale.

year 2 enjoyS their New PlaygrouNd

David Walton, Leader of Learning and Welfare Year 2

Year

2 students embarked on an exciting adventure as they explored the newly constructed, state-of-the-art adventure playground. The new equipment does not only offer fun for our young learners but also underscores the crucial role of physical development in Key Stage 1. Throughout the week the students have been learning how to best use the space safely.

The innovative playground boasts a range of meticulously designed structures, from towering climbing frames to exhilarating slides and challenging rope courses. The play area's creative layout was intended to stimulate the imaginations of the children while nurturing their motor skills and physical fitness.

Educational experts emphasise the importance of early physical development as a cornerstone of a child's overall growth and wellbeing. Moreover, playgrounds offer an environment for young learners to enhance their social skills through interactive play. Sharing, taking turns, and collaborating on challenges all help to lay the foundation for positive social interactions as the children grow and interact with their peers.

After each session and break time, the Year 2 students reluctantly left the playground, their faces adorned with smiles and a sense of accomplishment, eagerly anticipating their next play opportunity.

tranSport update - Where’S the BuS?

Services Department We're delighted to bring you some exciting news! The installation of GPS systems on all our buses has been successfully completed, marking the accomplishment of the first phase of our GPS system implementation. This integration now enables our Transport Team to easily pinpoint the location of all our buses. If you ever need to check the whereabouts of your child's bus, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Transport Team.

Looking ahead to the second phase, we have a range of fantastic features lined up for you. Parents whose children utilise our bus services will be granted application access. This means that as parents, you will have the incredible ability

to track your child's bus in real-time. This includes receiving timely notifications when your child boards and disembarks from the bus.

This initiative is a significant leap forward in our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of your child throughout their bus journeys. We're fully devoted to providing an enhanced sense of security and tranquility for both our students and their parents.

Keep an eye out for more updates as we continue to progress with this exciting development!

DANCE ACADEMY

The Dance Academy offers a wide range of options to select from.

These options are divided into three categories:

-Recreational Dance ECAs (Sign up based)

-Year Long Dance Study Program (Sign up based)

-Tiger Cats selective teams division. (Selection based)

For detailed information about each category, check out the Dance Academy’s blog, here!

a Summer Break Full oF dance!

Vallary Lokre, Head Dance Coach

Summer break offers us the time to do more of what we truly enjoy doing and without a doubt dancers from our school have made the best use of this time and I would like to highlight some of their achievements.

First and foremost, big congratulations to Year 8 dancer Mizuki Tanaka, who along with her team of six members known as 'Bloc D Jr' participated in the World Hiphop Championship (HHI2023) held in Phoenix, Arizona, United States and they got through all the way to the semi finals getting 5th place overall competing with 37 countries! This is a huge achievement and Mizuki's dedication, hard work and consistency has truly paid off.

Bloc D Jr participated in the Junior category as Thai representative team and ultimately secured a 5th place out of 42 teams.

Year 5 dancer Mona and Year 5 dancer Dalinda were declared winners at the International Youth Dance Championship (IYDC) in the pop duet category along with our youngest group of dancers from Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 - Youyou, Lisa, Yenjai, Felicia and Pariryn who secured 2nd place in their age category at the same competition. Dalinda has also been training all summer with a big entertainment company known as YG in Seoul, Korea!

Year 7 dancers Natalia and Sienna attended summer camps in Thailand and Brazil respectively, while Year 8 dancers Arthur and Varissa chose to do small group training and lessons over summer.

Year 7 dancers attended lessons at The Royal Academy of Dance and Year 11 dancer Filipa took part in a showcase here in Bangkok. The list is goes on!

Foundation Board updates

#251: what PareNts Need to KNow about threads

With the power and credibility of Meta (including a ready-made relationship with Instagram) behind it, plus users’ increasing frustration with Twitter and – for the moment, at least – no adverts, Threads struck an unprecedented social media ‘sweet spot’ when it launched in July 2023. “Way beyond our expectations,” was a delighted Mark Zuckerberg’s early verdict.

While Threads is currently relatively basic in terms of features, some concerns have already been raised over the sheer volume of users’ data the platform collects, the possibility of algorithms recommending unsuitable content and, as always, other people’s spiteful behaviour. This week’s guide brings parents and carers up to speed on this notable new arrival.

Have a brilliant weekend!

Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Technology for Learning